Temperature dependent photoluminescence of composition tunable Zn x AgInSe quantum dots and temperature sensor application.

Quantum dots (QDs) exhibit not only wide tunability of luminescence but also complex optical properties because of the large degree of freedom in their structure and chemical composition. Quaternary Znx AgInSe QDs with different Zn/Ag ratios were synthesized and examined as temperature sensors. The relationship among the luminescence energy, emission intensity, and full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the emission band at different temperatures was investigated. To understand the photoluminescence mechanism, time-resolved photoluminescence spectra were recorded. Moreover, the dependence of the luminescence peak energy and FWHM on temperature was investigated, and a small deviation from the actual temperature was observed, indicative of the use of Znx AgInSe QDs as high sensitivity temperature sensors.